Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence
David Beasley, Reuters
First posted: Monday, January 06, 2014 01:52 PM EST | Updated: Monday, January 06, 2014 02:05 PM EST
ATLANTA - A former aerospace executive who slapped a crying toddler on an airplane and used a racial slur against the child, who is black, received an eight-month prison sentence on Monday for an incident his attorney blamed on his alcoholism.
Joe Rickey Hundley, who apologized in court to the child's mother, was accused of striking the 19-month-old boy in the face on board a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis to Atlanta last February.
Hundley pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge in October. Prosecutors had sought a six-month prison sentence, but the federal judge opted for a stiffer punishment.
"I'm very sorry," Hundley told the child's mother during the court hearing in Atlanta. "I made the most terrible day in my life much worse for myself and others."
Hundley's attorney has said her client had flown to Atlanta to remove his dying son from life support after an insulin overdose and was emotionally distraught. She also blamed his alcoholism for his behavior on the flight.
The child's mother previously said Hundley was belligerent and seemed intoxicated during the flight. He used a racial slur when the child started crying as the plane descended.
The baby is black and his adoptive mother, Jessica Bennett of Minneapolis, is white. Hundley also is white.
Hundley was fired from his executive position at AGC Aerospace & Defense after the slapping incident, his attorney said.
A former aerospace executive who slapped a crying toddler on an airplane and used a racial slur against the child, received an eight-month prison sentence. REUTERS/Kootenai County Sheriff's Office/Handout Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence | World | News | Toronto Sun(external - login to view)

Most helpful post: The members here have rated this post as best reply.

Nuggler

#2

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Eight months of anger management with Bubba might help him get his head straight.

karrie

+3

#3

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

If it was a woman, we'd say the grief and alcohol had made her incompetent, send her to some anger management courses, and let it drop.

Sal

+2

#4

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote:

Hundley's attorney has said her client had flown to Atlanta to remove his dying son from life support after an insulin overdose and was emotionally distraught. She also blamed his alcoholism for his behavior on the flight.

ya know if that were my kid and I heard what had just happened to him I would have plead for the charges to be dropped...

what the fuk is wrong with people...his kid is dead...

jailing him will really help... my gawd.

this angers me.

karrie

+7

#5 Top Rated Post

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

I wouldn't drop the charges, but I'd push for no jail time. Community service, anger management, I don't know. But this doesn't say 'justice'.

Sal

+1

#6

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

I wouldn't drop the charges, but I'd push for no jail time. Community service, anger management, I don't know. But this doesn't say 'justice'.

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by Sal

ya know if that were my kid and I heard what had just happened to him I would have plead for the charges to be dropped...

I wouldnt. I could sympathize with the guy up until he struck a baby. I dont care what is wrong in his life there is no excuse for that. My sympathy goes out the window when they react to the problems in their life in that way.

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

If it was a woman, we'd say the grief and alcohol had made her incompetent, send her to some anger management courses, and let it drop.

Many would. I wouldnt. Sex makes absolutely no difference. Or at least it shouldnt.

bill barilko

+1

#8

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by WLDB

...I could sympathize with the guy up until he struck a baby. I dont care what is wrong in his life there is no excuse for that. My sympathy goes out the window when they react to the problems in their life in that way.

X2-I can't conceive of being that f'ed up and anyone who is belongs behind bars.

EagleSmack

#9

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Crime and Punishment.

petros

#10

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Too bad you can't give a crying baby booze to shut it up any longer.

Tecumsehsbones

#11

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by petros

Too bad you can't give a crying baby booze to shut it up any longer.

Taser works better'n slapping 'em.

petros

#12

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

It's not fair that only adults can get a gripe water on airlines with it only making adults even more grumpy from the piss poor services airlines provide these days.

Cannuck

#13

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

If it was a woman, we'd say the grief and alcohol had made her incompetent, send her to some anger management courses, and let it drop.

Yup, I still haven't figured out why some folks are responsible for what they do when they're drinking and others aren't

damngrumpy

+1

#14

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

No being in an emotional state such as that does not allow for dismissing bad behaviour.
I had to make that terrible decision once too not knowing what the outcome would be.
My wife was in ICU they told me if they removed the tubes and support she man or may
not survive but there was no turning back once the decision was made. I chose to go
ahead because she would not want to live that way. For another three and a half days
it was extremely stressful but she survived after one hell of a struggle. During that time
i was most upset but I never hit children or got drunk or picked fights with people or
made nasty remarks about anyones race for religion. Just because one is enduring an
ultimate life tsst does not qualify them to behave like and A-hole. In my view six months
with three to be served and a year of alcohol counselling would have been better for all
concerned but the Judged decided otherwise

karrie

#15

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by petros

It's not fair that only adults can get a gripe water on airlines with it only making adults even more grumpy from the piss poor services airlines provide these days.

I'd have gravol'ed my kid to travel. It's how I travel best.

EagleSmack

#16

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

I'm not so sure he'll do more than 3 months regardless.

I am pretty sure he won't be slapping anymore children.

People do have to pay for their crimes.

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

I'd have gravol'ed my kid to travel. It's how I travel best.

As one who travels a lot I do wince (inside) when a mom or dad take the seat with an infant. But I am also sympathetic and feel bad for the parent(s) when the kid starts crying. A crying kid on a plane is probably more stressful for the parent than anyone.

I don't haul off and slap the infant... if I did I would expect to go to jail.

What is gravol'ed?

damngrumpy

+1

#17

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

You are right eagle I know it can be stressful with a crying kid but I'm used to it
we have twenty three grandkids and four great grandkids.
There are things parents can do and should but its not the kids fault they are
being children and there would be hell to pay if you slapped the parents eh?
Seriously excuses are not the way to handle personal problems like this guy
did

Sal

#18

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by EagleSmack

I'm not so sure he'll do more than 3 months regardless.

I am pretty sure he won't be slapping anymore children.

People do have to pay for their crimes.

As one who travels a lot I do wince (inside) when a mom or dad take the seat with an infant. But I am also sympathetic and feel bad for the parent(s) when the kid starts crying. A crying kid on a plane is probably more stressful for the parent than anyone.

I don't haul off and slap the infant... if I did I would expect to go to jail.

What is gravol'ed?

kid will fall asleep

karrie

#19

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by EagleSmack

I don't haul off and slap the infant... if I did I would expect to go to jail.

What is gravol'ed?

Dosed up on Gravol.

I would expect you to go to jail too if you did. Except perhaps on the day you get stinking drunk because you just actively ended your kid's life.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating a pat on the back and send him on his way, I just don't think jail time is necessary given the circumstances.

SLM

#20

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

I wouldn't drop the charges, but I'd push for no jail time. Community service, anger management, I don't know. But this doesn't say 'justice'.

I agree, it doesn't make sense given the somewhat lighter sentencing we see for more serious or potentially serious offences we see. But I do think it's telling that the prosecutor requested six-month sentence and it was the judge that gave him eight. Kind of makes me think there was something in his demeanor maybe that prodded the judge to give him bit harsher of a sentence? Just speculating of course but my understanding is it's not often that a judge exceeds the sentencing request of the crown (prosecuting attorney, whatever).

JLM

#21

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

The judge may have been acting more from an emotional standpoint than common sense.

karrie

+1

#22

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by SLM

I agree, it doesn't make sense given the somewhat lighter sentencing we see for more serious or potentially serious offences we see. But I do think it's telling that the prosecutor requested six-month sentence and it was the judge that gave him eight. Kind of makes me think there was something in his demeanor maybe that prodded the judge to give him bit harsher of a sentence? Just speculating of course but my understanding is it's not often that a judge exceeds the sentencing request of the crown (prosecuting attorney, whatever).

I'm assuming it's because you can't be seen to be going light when it's there's any hint it was racially motivated.

damngrumpy

+1

#23

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

I don't think the judge was acting on emotion the sentence was slightly more
than expected but he won't be there more than three months anyway.

JLM

#24

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by damngrumpy

I don't think the judge was acting on emotion the sentence was slightly more
than expected but he won't be there more than three months anyway.

It's a hard one to call as the most important information is missing...................what was the extent of the harm to the child? I thought it may have been a little over kill as the man probably just snapped from the terrible ordeal he was going through. Probably not too much compassion shown in the sentencing.

damngrumpy

#25

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

To make matters worse he was going there drunk and admitted his has a drinking problem.
I have been through the experience of not knowing and a situation that could go either way
It is scary as hell to tell you the truth and sometimes like in my case it plays out over a
number of days. 8 months is a little to hard and a change to redeem oneself would be
more in keeping with the sentence but a slap on the wrist was not in order either
If he hit my kid I'd be in jail and he'd be in hospital

Goober

#26

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

I wouldn't drop the charges, but I'd push for no jail time. Community service, anger management, I don't know. But this doesn't say 'justice'.

Yup, I still haven't figured out why some folks are responsible for what they do when they're drinking and others aren't

Again you fail to understand.

Quote: Originally Posted by SLM

I agree, it doesn't make sense given the somewhat lighter sentencing we see for more serious or potentially serious offences we see. But I do think it's telling that the prosecutor requested six-month sentence and it was the judge that gave him eight. Kind of makes me think there was something in his demeanor maybe that prodded the judge to give him bit harsher of a sentence? Just speculating of course but my understanding is it's not often that a judge exceeds the sentencing request of the crown (prosecuting attorney, whatever).

Exactly - A sentence to appease the public.

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

I'm assuming it's because you can't be seen to be going light when it's there's any hint it was racially motivated.

Again another excellent point.

Quote: Originally Posted by damngrumpy

I don't think the judge was acting on emotion the sentence was slightly more
than expected but he won't be there more than three months anyway.

The sentence was not appropriate. Karrie was on the money.

bill barilko

#27

Re: Man who slapped baby on plane receives prison sentence

Jan 7th, 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by damngrumpy

I don't think the judge was acting on emotion the sentence was slightly more
than expected but he won't be there more than three months anyway.

Sentences in the US aren't like here he may well end up doing full time-would if it were a federal offence.